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Western Cape Prime Minister Alan Winde has asked politicians represented in the provincial legislature to work together. (Photo: Gallo Images / Netwerk24 / Adrian de Kock)
During a debate on Alan Winde’s economic recovery speech, speakers accused the Western Cape Prime Minister of repeating earlier promises. In return, Winde questioned whether politicians were really listening to the proposals and suggestions he made.
Western Cape Prime Minister Alan Winde has asked politicians represented in the provincial legislature to work together. During a session on Friday, October 23, Winde said he was “disappointed” that opposition members of the legislature did not come up with any ideas to help the province’s recovery in a post-coronavirus world.
The debate on Winde’s speech followed Thursday’s special session of the legislature, where the prime minister addressed the province’s economic and social recovery plans.
Read on Daily Maverick: Prime Minister Alan Winde develops Western Cape’s economic recovery plan
Opening the debate, Rachel Windvogel of the ANC said that Winde “did not measure up” to the debate, and that although she had used the word ‘courage’ 39 times in her speech, ‘you must have the courage to admit that you failed the poor ”.
The MEC for agriculture, Ivan Meyer, described Winde as “the best premier in the country.”
GOOD party member Brett Herron said “the prime minister is putting lipstick on a pig … these are not bold and brave plans.”
Heron, a former DA member who has been a vocal critic of the official opposition and Winde provincial government said: “These are the same plans that are being presented to us for the third time camouflaged with new labels.
“On July 18 last year, the Prime Minister addressed this Parliament for the first time. He promised to create jobs. He vowed to guarantee a dignified life for each and every resident. He made a commitment to safety. ”
Ricardo Mackenzie, Chairman of the Standing Committee on Constitutional Affairs and Prime Minister, said that “we must recognize that a key aspect of our restructuring strategy in the Western Cape is based on economic recovery, without which we cannot achieve our objectives of [creating] opportunities for work, dignity, well-being and safety … however, instead of supporting the provinces in the crucial achievement of these goals, the national government remains bent on rescuing, yes, once again, South African Airways for a sum of R10 billion “.
Both ANC’s Pat Lekker and EFF’s Nosipho Makamba-Botya questioned plans to keep residents safe in poor areas, and Makamba-Botya said Winde’s speech “was not only boring, but a waste of time. ”.
Makamba-Botya said the speech was a repeat of other speeches and called the province’s security plan, which aims to cut the murder rate in half by 2030, as “nothing more than a fruitless and wasteful adventure it will never receive. no positive result. ”
Read on Daily Maverick: Winde pledges R1 billion a year to fight crime and halve the murder rate in the Western Cape by 2030
Peter Marias of Freedom Front Plus suggested the establishment of a centralized unemployment agency where job seekers could view vacancies as some people do not have access to the Internet.
Responding to the debate, Winde said he would look at the suggestion made by Marais to “see what can be done.” Apart from that, Winde questioned whether opposition members of the legislature had in fact read his speech, adding that he was “disappointed that people have not come up with new ideas.”
Addressing Windvogel’s claim that he and his government were reckless in wanting the confinement to end, Winde, abandoning his generally calm demeanor, said “frankly, the minister [health minister Zweli Mkhize] it was very reckless. ” This was in reference to a series of tweets and a statement issued Wednesday night by Mkhize in which he claimed there was a 42% increase in Covid-19 cases in the Western Cape.
“He didn’t say anything about other provinces,” Winde said, asking where Mkhize got his figures from.
Winde said the province cannot afford another closure.
“A second wave will make us poorer; a second wave will make us hungrier; a second wave will cost us more jobs. ”
Closing the debate, Winde said, “we need jobs, we need security and we need dignity … and we all need to work together.” DM
